The Thai cabinet granted approval on Tuesday for the implementation of the THB 10,000 ‘Handout’ program targeting 14.5 million vulnerable citizens, with a designated budget of THB 145.55 billion. The initiative is slated to launch on September 25, 2024.
The distribution of the THB 10,000 subsidy will be overseen by the Comptroller General’s Department (CGD). Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that the initiative received approval from the Office of the Council of State (OCS), the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the Bank of Thailand (BOT).
The Ministry of Finance has separated the initial state of the scheme into two groups of eligible, including:
1. Citizens holding social welfare cards, totaling 12.40 million individuals, will receive the THB 10,000 cash on September 25, 2024. The disbursement will be made via the prompt pay accounts connected to the identification numbers of each person in this category.
Individuals who are bedridden or elderly (aged 60 and above) and are unable to link their accounts via prompt pay will receive the cash through shared deposit accounts, which are registered with consent for shared access with other individuals at the provincial office or through the CGD.
The budget source will not exceed THB 124.05 billion. This amount is segmented into two categories: THB 122 billion allocated from economic stimulation and economy enhancement within the 2024 additional budget, and THB 2,059 million designated from emergency reimbursements.
2. Citizens with disabilities, totaling 2.15 million individuals, will receive the THB 10,000 cash on September 25, 2024. The disbursement process will partly involve utilizing the disability allowance system, which will gather information from the Local Administrative Organization, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Pattaya Special Administrative Region of Thailand.
Individuals whose information did not appear in the data from the local organization will receive the cash through their prompt pay accounts linked to their identification numbers.
The budget source for this group will be from emergency reimbursements, accounting for THB 21.49 billion.
The Ministry of Finance projected that the cash distribution to citizens with social welfare cards and individuals with disabilities through the program will inject THB 145.55 billion into the Thai economy, potentially expanding it by 0.35%.
Meanwhile, as reported on Monday, the second phase of the subsidy is expected to be implemented early next year, offering additional assistance to eligible beneficiaries.
